Torralba manages to include the white and black Grenache varieties in the IGP ‘Illa de Menorca’

Torralba Ciutadella winery began its project more than a decade ago. One that, and seeking to be as rustic and natural as possible, began with a study of the subsoil of the estate. It is through this that they realized, as its director, Alejandro Feu, explains, “that Grenache is an ideal variety and that can work very well for the land and climate that we find on the island. It is a rustic variety, that withstands drought very well, and that is producing great wines, today, at a global level”. So they committed to its cultivation.

After years of working with this variety, and starting to market its fruits, seeing that they really did produce very interesting wines with a key differentiation; they decided that the time had come to pursue the IGP that would recognize white and black Grenache. “So, from Torralba, we decided to start the relevant process. Which consisted of carrying out and presenting a study and a dossier, in order to obtain the IGP”. Among other things, Torralba had to ensure that its plots were qualified, that the wine was produced as such and, therefore, marketed. And that, externally, it was recognized as a good and different product.

Little by little, they achieved everything that was asked of them. But the part that stands out the most, for the pride it implies and the meaning it has, is having achieved awards and recognition at an international level. Like the Gold Medal at the Brussels World Wine Competition (Concours Mondial de Bruxelles). Or at the International Grenaches Du Monde Competition. As well as the appearance, specifically of the Grenache Noir wine, in the Peñín Guide 2024, with 91 points, as one of the best wines in Spain.

Now, and after years of work, they have finally achieved that, in this month of January, and officially, Grenache is now recognized as another variety of the IGP. “The entire process that we have gone through to obtain the IGP has been in favor of the Menorcan wine sector. For this, it is the Vi Menorca association, who presented our work to the IQUA (Institute of Agro-Food Quality of the Balearic Islands), which, at the same time, passed it on to the European Commission. It is like a gift, contributing our grain of sand to the sector. One that is growing more and more, and that is being placed on the map”, explains Feu.

A task, which they have done from Torralba Ciutadella, which in no case has sought only its own benefit, but has wanted, in some way, to help the wine sector, to be able to use another variety in a recognized way. With the importance that this implies. “If you don’t have a PGI behind you that recognizes you, you can’t say that that wine is Menorcan, you can’t prove it or express it. Now, on the other hand, anyone who makes wine with Grenache will be able to say it very loudly, and put it very boldly”.

But what really makes Menorcan Grenache unique and different? As the director of Torralba explains to us: “It is a grape capable of surviving in very dry climate situations. Since we are talking about a complex, stony subsoil. But we have also verified that, without irrigation, the grape advances in an exceptional way. And it gives a very concentrated fruit that, later, becomes an aromatic variety. These traits are what I believe result in exceptional wines”.

This is how, from an idea, from a private initiative, of wanting to know the subsoil, to obtain the most suitable varieties, a new incorporation into the IGP ‘Illa de Menorca / Isla de Menorca’ ends up emerging and appearing. One that for the Menorcan wine world means more recognized varieties, more possibilities to make and grow, and, above all, more appreciation of the Menorcan wine sector.